Sole trimming machine



Jan. 20, 1948. c. 1.. FLINDT 2,434,739

SOLE TRIMMING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l uHil'm- J22 Van for:

Jan. 20, 1948. c. L. FLINDT SOLE TRIMMING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1944 ,Jnregzior Patented Jan. 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT LOFFICE 2,434,739 SOLE TRIMMING MACHINE Charles L. Flindt, San J ose, Calif.

' Application March 1, 1944, Serial No. 52 1;543

8 Claims. (cum-s) I This invention relates to machines for rounding and trimming the soles of shoes.

The objects of this invention are first,to'produce a machine which in one operation on a shoe sole, will produce a result equal to that now produced in shoe factories by the combined use of the rough rounder and trimmer; second, to iml' prove and simplify that branch of'shoe sole trim.-

ming which employs a. draw stroke of a knife saw fin severing the soles as distinguished from the rough rounder which cuts the sole with a chisel chopping action.

The drawings and specifications will clearly ,point out a faster operating machine, a less com plicated machine and a machine producing a" smoother trim in the output than other machines have made possible.

I Fig. 1 is a front view of the essential features of the'machine.

Fig. 2 is a top View of the circular knife and its bearings.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the sole gauger and 'its bearing.

"Fig. 4 is a detached knife blade rolled out flat. Fig. 5 is a detail showing operating position of the knife relative to the shoe sole.

1 Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail showing an' angle The cutter 2 of Fig. 2 is These journals I4 Sole cutter I am aware that previous to this application ""fiat circular blades have been used to trim soles; the principal objection to this custom has been "the impossibility to trim with accuracy in the 'curve of the shank of the sole for the reason that afiat' circular blade cannot follow in a curved ""cut'without distorting the work and producing *aninaccurate result. By the use of aconcave circular blade, I am able to cut' in a curved line with accuracy and smoothness which is a major "objective in this application.

There are modifications of a "concave blade wwhichwill obtain the same result providing clear- 2 ance is provided behind the rim or cutting edge of the blade for preventing a binding and interference of the blade 2 with sole 32 as the shank curve is being out (see Fig. 5).

" Work holding When the operator of the machine trims a shoe sole he stands in front of Fig. l, with the tread of the shoe sole resting on block I! and ba1l'l8, and he bears the upper of the shoe adjacent the sole against hood 3. 'In order to take the various thicknesses of soles, cord 28 which connects pivot block 8 and pedal (not shown), enables the operator to depress the pedal sufiicient to barely maintain thesaid clearance.

allow clearance of the shoe bottom between block I! and the lower edge of the hood, and when in the desired position the nut 26 is adjusted to The bolt passes through a larger hole in base 20 and seats rigidly in pivot block 8 and has a spring 21 encircling the bolt' which controls 'the'degree of pressure placed on the welt of the shoe bottom. The block 8 it will be seen is concentric withthe drive of the blade, for it pivots around the blade carrier axis 4. i Thus it will'be seenthat even'though a very'thick solemustbe trimmed the relation of 'thehood 3 to that of the blade remains the same'whether the soles are thick or thin.

Sole extension The rotary sole gauging hood 3 is nicely bal- 'anced to run freely in its ball bearings 39 and because it is contacted by the shoe upper at a point' near-central with the'rim of the blade, a minimum of resistance is encountered tothe work feeding operation. These features have outstanding value atthis timewhen so many of theshoe styles includeuppers with heavy' seams which extenddown tothe welt-and" project enough to prevent an ordinary sole extension gaugefrom operating without danger of stalling at such projection. 'The rotary's'ole gauging h'ood' of'this invention rides oversuch seams without'in'terference therefrom.

The hood is bell shaped and is turned in a true circle with avery thin bell shaped rim and-one piecestem; this stem is journaled in ball bearing holders 6 between collars I and 1, and thesaid holders bolt rigidly to member 9 which inturn pivots around bolt Ill-that seats in pivot block 8. When the machine operator desires to gauge the sole extensionwhich he wants to have remain on "theshoe; he loosens nut I2 on bolt 3li and moves nin'iber' 9' tothe-Heft as much as desired;

the slot l3 in member 9, permitting movement around pivot l0.

Operation passes sole support block H in close contact relation; it will also be noted that the teeth 34 eachhave an edge which extends at near right angles to the path of the blade and these edges pass the block H at near the same plane as the surface of the block. My experience has taught me that when these said right angle edges of the teeth pass the Work support I! at the same level as the surface of the support a neutral efiect occurs as regards feeding of the work, but when a slightly acute angle is given to these said edges and the support H is at a level plane, a pull is exerted on the work and a positive assist to feeding occurs. Thus for the reason that the edge nearest the periphery of the blade hits the work first (the movement being counterclockwise), a drag is created on the work towards the cutter in proportion to the degree of acute angle built into the teeth of the saw.

The block i7 is made of hard steel or similar material and fits the blade in order to insure close clearance of the blade past it and inasmuch as each of the said edges are bevel sharpened toward their outer circumference at a proper angle (somewhat as a saw is filed), a shearing effect of the work is produced as the teeth pass the block and it cooperates with the blade.

The outer edges of the teeth which together form the periphery of the blade, are in the form of a knife edge which insure a clean cut through the work. The spaces between the teeth permit easier and more effective feedin of the work for when in motion the resistance to the feeding operation is intermittently removed with the passing of each tooth alternating with an intermittent advance of the cutting edge in the out being made.

Feeding As before stated, hood 3 is adjusted to allow bare clearance of the work between it and the work support, according to the work and as the operator elects. Thus hand feeding of the work against the blade is made easy.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the blade carrier 2 is created with a recess and shoulder for receiving blade I of Fig. 4, which is made of spring tempered steel and lays out flat as shown when not coiled up for insertion into the carrier. The said shoulder receives the back or straight edge of the blade and screws 35 attach the blade to the carrier,

The blade is rotated counterclockwise on its ball bearings l4 and M by power through a V- belt over pulley iii of Fig. 2. Thus as rotation proceeds the blade I of Fig. 4 contacts the work first with the narrow section and the blade advances in the cut with the passing of each wider section of the blade and an intermittent advance of the cutting edge in the work occurs when in movement, for the feeding of the work will operate to advance the Work more when the narrow sections of the blade are opposing the work and therefore the said wide sections of the blade will more effectively bite into the work than would be true were the entire periphery of the blade one smooth cutting edge.

Edge tarnishing The left edge of the blade carrier 2 and its blade which together engage the body of the sole, are polished to a high degree and the continuous rub against the cut edge produces not only a smooth edge but also a polished edge when cutting leather.

Edge thinning Block H, shown in Fig. 1 and in enlarged detail in Fig. 6 carries an angle knife 2| connected to stem 22 and held by screw 23; this knife removes or ratherthins and rounds off the feather edge left by the circular knife at the bottom of the sole 32.

It will be seen in Fig. 2, that the blade and carrier 2, fit into a V-shaped slot in block H. The fit is close in order that bare clearance is provided and accordingly the work is out very clean as the blade passes the block. Therefore for most work the knife 2| can be removed but is desirable when a thinner edge is specified for the finished sole.

The container 30 holds a mixture of water with a small per cent of water soluble oil in it; this compound saturates wick 3| which contacts the blade to lubricate same and is especially valuable when the operator is trimming soles (rubber) for it enables smoother cuttin and insures a sharp blade for a longer time.

It will be noted in Figure 1 that the position of work support I! is located nearly central horizontally with the axis of the blade carrier. This is the preferred form, however, I do not wish to be limited to this arrangement for very good results are obtained when the work is presented to the blade for trimming at either the top or bottom of the blade. These difierent modifications do not change the essential characteristics of the blade which are covered in the claims in a broad form.

In the drawings of the patent previously referred to in these pages, it will be noted that an arcuate approach of the trimming blade toward the upper is an important part of the invention for this mechanical feature enables closer entry toward the arch of the shoe when the machine operator shapes the shank of the sole, than was true in former practice when the blade action was vertical.

In this present invention the sole support is positioned nearly central and at one side of the periphery of the blade. It will be noted that this arrangement established with a circular blade the desired arcuate approach toward the work featured by the said patent cited above, and also enables that the cut made in the work by the blade to more nearly approach a right an-.

gle to the tread surface of the shoe sole. As explained previously under the heading Sole cutchine of, sole supportin and holding devices, a rotary concavo-convex circular blade, a member having an edge located adjacent and extending parallel of the outside of the cutting rim of the blade in cooperative relation therewith, means for rotating the blade past the said cooperating edge for severing the excess oVerhang of a shoe bottom, and a guide interposed between the blade and the shoe upper for guarding the upper from possible damage by the blade.

2. The combination in a shoe sole trimming machine, of a concave rotary circular blade, a member with a cooperating edge contacting the blade to assist the blade as it passes it in severing the excess overhang of a shoe bottom, means for thinning the trimmed edge of the shoe bottom, means for determinin the extent and uniformity of the sole extension left on the shoe bottom, and a guard contacting the upper of the shoe in position to protect same from possible blade damage.

3. The combination in a sole trimming machine, of a rotary concave circular blade, a series of teeth in the work engaging rim of the blade, a work support, and a cooperating edge in connection with the support located adjacent, and extending on both sides of the cutting rim of the blade to function as a work holder and to assist the teeth of the blade in creating a clean smooth out of the work when the blade is rotated and the teeth pass the said edge.

4. The combination in a shoe sole trimming machine, of a rotary concave circular blade, a work support abutting the blade with an edge which cooperates with the blade in severing the sole extension of a shoe bottom, and means for assisting the operator of the machine in guiding the work against the blade and over the support in free moving relation comprising a guide mounted to contact the upper of the shoe during the trimming operation to insure a uniform sole extension remaining on the shoe bottom.

5. In a shoe sole trimming machine, the combination with sole supporting and holding means, of a concave circular saw shaped for enabling the trimming of the curves of the shank of a shoe bottom, means mounting the saw on an axis for rotation thereon with all points on the periphery of the saw equidistant from the said axis, means for contacting the upper of the shoe in position to protect same from injury liable from the saw, and a member located adjacent the blade and having one side thereof parallel to the cutting rim of the blade and forming a cooperating edge past which the saw is rotated for assisting the saw in severing the excess overhang of a shoe bottom.

6. The combination in a shoe sole trimming machine, of sole supporting and guiding devices, a blade shaped in arcuate form and mounted to enable closer entry toward the shoe when the shank of the shoe sole is being trimmed, and a cooperating edge located adjacent and extending parallel the cutting rim of the blade in position to assist the blade in severing the excess overhang of a shoe sole when the blade moves past the said edge.

7. The combination in a shoe sole trimming machine, of sole supporting and guiding devices, a blade shaped in arcuate form and having a lateral edge and mounted to enable closer entry toward the arch of the shoe when the shank of the shoe sole is being trimmed, a cooperating edge located adjacent and extending parallel the cutting rim of the blade in position to assist the blade in severing the excess overhang of a shoe sole when the blade moves past the said edge, and means for lubricating the cutting rim of the blade to facilitate cutting.

8. The combination in a shoe sole trimming machine, of sole supporting and guiding devices, a blade shaped in arcuate form and having a lateral edge and mounted to enable closer entry toward the shoe when the shank of the shoe sole is being trimmed, a cooperating edge located adjacent and extending parallel the cutting rim of the blade in position to assist the blade in trimming 01f the excess overhang of a shoe sole when the blade moves past the said edge, a guard in position for contacting the upper of the shoe to thereby hold the upper away from the path of the moving blade and possible injury therefrom, and means for lubricating the rim of the blade to facilitate cutting.

CHARLES L. FLINDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 540,438 Harris June 4, 1895 556,146 Harris Mar, 10, 1896 1,099,336 Ballard June 9, 1916 1,235,960 Cavanagh Aug. 7, 1917 1,293,059 Eder Feb. 4, 1919 1,680,494 Ballard Aug. 14, 1928 1,720,769 Stephenson July 16, 1929 1,774,887 I-Iummel Sept. 2, 1930 1,869,434 Merrick Aug. 4, 1932 1940.121 Fabiano Dec. 19, 1933 1.9 4487 Eppler Sept. 25, 1934 2,288,897 Fllndt July 7, 1942 Disclaimer 2,434,739.Oharles L. Flindt, San Jose, Calif. SOLE TRIMMING MACHINE. Patent dated Jan. 20, 1948. Disclaimer filed Oct. 25, 1948, by the patentee.

Hereby enters disclaimer to the following words appearing in column 5, lines 5 and 6, claim 1 of the patent:

means for rotating the blade past the said cooperating edge and substitutes in lieu thereof:

means for conveying motor powerfor rozafing the blade past the said cooperating edge.

[Ofiicial Gazette November 30, 1.948.] 

